Friday 10 April 2015

I: Going off the rails for Ivor


I'm not sure to what extent my letter I reason to be cheerful is based solely on childhood memories as opposed to being something I like and find charming even now. I'm not even sure that matters.

Anyway, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present Ivor the Engine. If ever I'm feeling a bit confounded and knocked about by life then just sit me down in front of an episode of Ivor the Engine and I'll soon feel a lot better.

Yes, for those who don't know, Ivor the Engine is a children's animation about a small green steam locomotive who lived in the "top left hand corner of Wales".

The animations were the creation of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin and were delightfully low-tech. The noise of Ivor going along the track was made by Oliver Postgate with his mouth. This has the advantage that all of us who have watched Ivor the Engine can have a go ourselves at making the same noise. Hours of fun, as you can see.

It might suggest dreadful insecurities on my part that I find Ivor the Engine so comforting, but in a world where evil people do evil things and then gloat about it, the chance to immerse myself in a world where all problems are gently resolved, often with a cup of tea, is one I accept gratefully.

See whether Ivor the Engine calms you down by watching this episode.


Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin also made another children's animation that I particularly like, namely Noggin the Nog. This tells stories about Noggin who is basically a kindly Viking king.

I love the theme tune to Ivor the Engine, which features a nice bit of bassoon, but I thought I'd like to put something a bit more raucous as the music to go with this post. I've chosen 5:15 by The Who. Anything less like Ivor the Engine than The Who's brass-heavy blast about a pilled-up Mod heading for Brighton on the 5:15 would be hard to find, but it's a great song.



Question: Do you like steam trains? If you know about Ivor the Engine and Thomas the Tank Engine, which do you prefer? Let me know in the comments section.



12 comments:

  1. For me it was always Ivor - he had the added advantage of having a dragon sleeping in his furnace and of course he could sing in the choir - if I remember correctly. But if there is any children's program that tugs at my heart strings it is Noggin the Nog with Nogbad the Bad - I don't know if it is because I just haven't ever seen re-runs of this so all my memories of it stem from watching it as a child so in my mind it is the best children's telly EVER!! Special Teaching at Pempi’s Palace

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    1. I think you'll find Noggin the Nog on YouTube. I think it's very therapeutic watching stuff like that.

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    2. Oh you wonderful man - Noggin the Nog is indeed now on youtube (it certainly wasn't when I was searching for it many years ago when my children were young!!) and I have just watched the first episode with a lump in my throat - thank you so much for the best blog post ever :)

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    3. If this blog does nothing else, I can at least be pleased it has reunited you with Noggin the Nog.

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  2. The narrator's Welsh accent is something you don't forget in a hurry

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    1. Strangely enough I think some of the Ivor the Engine episodes were made in Blean not far from where I grew up in Kent, which is a long way from Wales.

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  3. I LOVED Noggin the Nog - that narrator's voice! Thanks for reminding me, I must find an episode on Youtube. As for Thomas the Tank Engine, I've also found that most problems can be solved by sitting around a table with a cup of tea. World leaders should take note.

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    1. A cup of tea and a bit of cake, problem solved.

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  4. Hi Mark - I think those stories are the best .. sadly I'm slightly older .. and if I had kids .. they'd have had all the episodes .. and I see I need to read more about them and the history .. fascinating .. cheers Hilary

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    1. They are good, aren't they? Have you tried making the noise of Ivor the Engine yet? You should, it's good fun...honestly.

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  5. Brand new follower here, dropping by from A to Z.

    Nice to meet you, Mark!

    2015 A to Z Challenge Co-Host
    Matthew MacNish from The QQQE

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    1. Nice to meet you, Matthew. I shall be visiting very soon.

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